2. What is the purpose of a TV documentary
The purpose of a TV documentary is to DOCUMENT, i.e. report with
evidence, something that has actually happened. It can show this by using
‘actuality’ footage or reconstructions.
It can us an narratives voiceover to anchor the meaning or rely on the
participants themselves, with the occasions interjection on the narrator. The
term documentary was coined by film maker ‘John Grehson’ in 1926, to
describe a film made about life on a south sea island. He defined
documentary as “The creative treatment of actuality” (or reality).
Documentaries are not just about facts, instead, facts are used to create social
critical argument, thereby inviting the audience to draw a conclusion.
3. Types of Documentaries
‘Fully Narrated’: the voiceover is used to make sense of the visuals and dominates their
meaning. E.g. Natural history documentaries.
‘Fly on the wall’: The cameras film the subject, without interference. E.g. 24hours in A&E
‘Mixed’: This uses a combination of interview, observation and narration. E.g. Interviews
‘Self-reflexion’: The subject of the documentary acknowledge of the presence of the
camera and often speak directly to the film makers. Draw attention to the film maker’s role
in constructing a view of reality. E.g. Celebrity in look of life
‘Docudrama’: Reconstruction, a re-enactment of an event as they are supposed to have
actually happened.
‘Docusoap’: These programmes follow daily lives of particular individuals, within an
organisation. E.g. Airline
4. Features of documentaries
John Corner- there are five central elements to a documentary.
1. Observation- the programme makers pretend that the camera is unseen
or ignored by the people taking part in the events. It places the audience as
an “eye witness to the event.
2. The interview- TV documentaries rely on interviews. The interviewee
address the unseen interviewer rather than the audience. Interviews are
intercut with images of observation to illustrate what they are talking
about.
3. Dramatisation- All documentaries use a sense of drama throughout the
observation element.
4. Mise-en-scene- Documentary makers carefully compose shots so that they
contain images they want the audience to see.
5. Exposition- The line of argument. The way the argument “unfolds”.
5. Types of Narrative structures
Open V Closed
Open: Questions left unanswered, loose ends. (E.G. SOAPS)
Closed: All questions are answered. (E.G FINDING NEMO)
Single Strand V Multi-strand
Single: There is only one narrative thread, one story.
Multi: More than one narrative strand, sometimes these do convey, not always.
Linear V Non-linear
Linear: Follows chronological order, order of time.
Non-linear: Doesn't follow time order, often use of flash backs or flash forwards.
Circular: At the end of the narrative, its gone full circle, returning to the
beginning.
